joemg311

I still have no idea if hitting coaches matter that much and how much they do. Do they look at tape of opposing pitchers the night before and come up with overall and individualized game plans, or is that advance scouting dept? Even if hitting coaches just go over tape of their own players and try to identify things they can adjust to improve, that itself seems like too much workload for one person. Are modern day hitting coaches just the delivery boy for scouting/analytics? If so, players liking them is the most important thing and there are issues elsewhere, but at the end of the day there are good and bad hitters on every team so the vast majority of success clearly depends on the individual. If I was making 10+ million a year to hit a baseball , I would definitely just hire my own personal video guy and or coach if I felt I needed more help than I was getting.

The team is going to be fine. Once Lynn is back, I see the starting pitching being better than last year with Cease and Kopech taking steps forward. . The bullpen will be better than last year with Graveman and Kelly and a couple lightening in a bottle guys. No idea how the offense will end up, but if Jose heats up with the weather like usual we will be fine.

My dream of eventually having half the roster with first names that begin with "Y' are fading. Had a shot when Yolmer and Yonder were around. We have Yolbert and Yolequi in the minors though. Yasmani will be back soon. Yasiel is look for an opportunity but there is a lot of baggage there.

If Max Scherzer is available and healthy you do whatever it takes to get him. Even though a starter is not a "need" he would be more of an impact in the playoffs than any bat or bullpen arm available. Otherwise we also will probably have to face him when he goes to the Astros or someone.

Who would trade Cease for Scherzer, Hudson and Hand + Harrison or Schwarber?

Ross Gload 2.0

I didn't realize Blake Rutherford was so young still. He just turned 24. It seems like people were writing him off a couple years ago when he was just ok as a 22 year old in AA, but he is still young enough to be a legit prospect if he can hold his own in AAA this year.

I can't wait until Tony starts playing Luis Gonzalez over Vaughn like he did with Nick Williams. It should have been Mendick up to cover the infield, let Luery play center until Engel returns with Hamilton as the backup outfielder. If you can upgrade Hamilton for little to nothing, then do it, but dont give up anything of value for a player that hopefully wont see the field after a few weeks.

So maybe they are going to have a Yermin/Collins platoon for DH and backup catcher. Grandal can DH occasionally to stay fresh. Any given night you can have the catcher and dh hit lefty or righty based on matchups. Not bad.

This situation remind anyone else of The MIghty Ducks? La Russa is our coach Bombay.

I'm ok with Jerry hireing his buddy to try and win a world series in the next year or two as long as part of the plan/deal is that Jerry also ups the payroll by 100 million or so this off-season to help La Russa win it all 😂

They are clearly trying to stretch Lucas out to 150 pitches so in the playoffs they can count on him for complete games.

I completely agree. I think a lot would have to go right on top of adding several very good pieces to this team to make a serious playoff run, but there are enough holes to fill on the team that some of it has to be done now, because there may be even more to fill in a year or two if some guys regress or do not pan out.

So lets say Rendon is cheaper than Cole or Strasburg... Would it be crazy to sign him, and then use Moncada as the centerpiece to acquire either a great young RF, or Starting pitcher?

Long time reader and lurker here. There is so much doom and gloom lately with the prospect aspect of the rebuild. I'm still optimistic about the teams future though. We have lots of money to spend to help this team compete in the near future. Was it ever really realistic to expect the entire starting rotation to be all studs on rookie contracts? I feel like the only way the rebuild is actually an epic fail is if this team doesn't go out and spend as promised. I know the ultimate goal is to win a world series, but this team can still at least be competitive in our garbage division by adding a few guys and then have a shot at a world series if some of the prospects turn out to be very good major leaguers. Why not compete next year? You don't even need to spend and get Harper or Machado, sign Donaldson+Brantley+a legit bullpen arm instead. Lets get back to being an ok team through free agency and then see if the farm system can turn us into a very good team the next few years.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 31, 2016 -> 01:58 PM) You could break up with gf the next day though. My brother asked me to cosign on a small loan and they said no because they want him to use a spouse or significant other. I'm his f***ing older brother FFS. It doesn't get any closer relative wise than that. I have never hear of that before. I don't think a lender can tell you whom you can use for a cosigner, they can just tell you if you are approved or not. On demanding a spouse as a cosigner, the only situation I could see that happening is if you are married and your spouse has good credit and or a nice granishable long term employement, and you just flat out refuse to give them your wifes information or say she won't cosign. A lender might get scared off that your wife will not be part of a loan, but If you do not have a spouse, or they have bad credit, a sibling or parent is the best possible cosigner.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 31, 2016 -> 10:15 AM) Not sure if this would be the appropriate thread but since when do you need to be a spouse or a significant other to cosign on a loan for a relative? I work with automotive financing, and it is not required, but most lenders prefer or take into account the closeness of a cosigner to the buyer. They usually want it to be a parent/close family member. They figure even with ok credit, your short term girl friend, or your coworkers cousin are a lot less likely to make good on the loan themselves should you not be able to pay.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 03:08 PM) Researching the burning oil problem and it looks like it's mostly the 2.4L engine that's affected? This one is a 3.0L V6. Yup, it seems like mostly the 4 cylinder you hear about. Not sure if it is because there are way more 3.4L out there or if the 6 has less problems. Either way, 4 vs 6 cylinder on an accord is only a 2mpg difference. Nice to have the extra power.

QUOTE (Iwritecode @ Mar 23, 2015 -> 12:43 PM) Debating between a 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5s with 71,000 miles and a 2005 Honda Accord EX-L with 138,000 miles. Both are the same price. I'm not real familiar with Nissan in general but I've read a lot of positive reviews. Although everyone I've ever talked to said that a Honda will last for a long, long time. We are looking for reliability over anything. Haven't seen the Nissan in person yet but the Honda was obviously well cared for. It's very clean inside and out. I own/operate a used car lot. Honda has a great reputation for their vehicles lasting and therefor holding their value well, but in my opinion you pay a premium for that and it all evens out. This is why you can get a newer Nissan with way less miles for the same price making it an draw deal wise. Be aware that both those vehicles have somewhat common known issues that are usually hard to check for. Both have been known to excessively burn oil, especially the accord. It just google it. It is common enough that many wonder how it was never recalled. I have had a 2004 Accord that would need about 2 quarts added between oil changes, and most Honda dealers will claim this is normal. It is a piston ring design issue. As for the 4 cylinder Altimas, The catalytic converters tend to break apart and somehow send debris back into the engine causing lots of engine failures. Every car has its common issues, but these I see a bit more often then things on other cars, and both are around the mileage were said issues are most common. I would go for the Honda, but try and get a super long test drive somehow and check the oil level.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/106009868/mete...nosaur-bone-and What could possibly be more awesome then being able to tell people your wedding band is made of dinosaur bone and meteorite?

Does anyone else feel like a signing of Suk-Min Yoon would help fill the void that missing out on Tanaka has created in our souls? He is Asian and right handed. Also his name is better. Time to start the swoon yoon thread...

A trough full of bacon (crispy) and a case of beer.

http://www.sportspickle.com/article:1146/t...nts-of-all-time Pretty amusing, just thought I would share.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jul 27, 2010 -> 03:34 PM) Jason Giambi! I had no idea he was still playing baseball

Brad Hawpe